The 5 financial habits most likely to lead to a divorce

Money issues are the third leading cause of divorce, according to the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, preceded by incompatibility and infidelity.

The digital economy has made it easier than ever to spend money and engage in bad financial habits. Shopping, investing and gambling promise instant gratification at the click of a mouse. Need more money to indulge in online consumption? No problem. Sign up online for a credit card, and get approved and start spending in a few minutes.

Of the 16 reasons for divorce cited by Divorce Magazine, four relate directly to financial issues: household debt, shopaholic spouse, gambling spouse, and a spouse who refuses to work. You can avoid marriage problems by being aware of the following five financial issues known to be a predictor of divorce:

Household Debt

When household debt levels surpass disposable income, stress is created in the home. Stress builds as the household takes on more debt to pay current debt. Calls and mail from debtors and collection agencies can add to the daily tension. Although household debt has surpassed 2008 levels, households are better managing debt. Debt per capita has declined from $53,000 to $48,000. Mortgage debt has fallen since 2008, but credit card and student loan delinquencies are rising.

Low Credit Score

A low credit score is another predictor of divorce. Low credit can certainly add to household financial stress. Low credit means you will be charged a higher interest rate on credit cards, bank loans, mortgages and other debt. Moreover, if your credit is not good, you are likely making payments late and accumulating late fees and charges.

Shopaholic Spouse

With gizmo sites and style bloggers dominating the blogosphere, Instagram and other social media, over shopping is breaking up more marriages. The marriage rife is no longer only about overspending. She may be more into her social media life and sharing the latest fashion tips than you. It's wise to create and stick to a budget.

Investing

The rise of online investing has been a source of friction in many marriages. The conservative spouse places the family money in long-term passive investments via a robo-advisor — automated investment management. The risk-taking spouse actively trades stocks and currencies even though most active investors lose money. He suffers from overconfidence bias – believing he has superior trading skills and/or market information – and is more concerned with monitoring his trades on his smartphone than meaningful discussion in your marriage counseling sessions.

Gambling

Gambling no longer only takes place in Las Vegas. Casinos have sprung up around the country. The current strong gambling revenue growth is coming from online gaming sites and apps, and social gambling. Your spouse can bet on sporting events on his smartphone anywhere, anytime.

If the person you are dating engages in any or all of these financial habits, you may want to reconsider a future with him or her. There is a high probability financial stress will be part of your daily life and a source of marriage conflict.

If financial stress is already a source of conflict in your marriage, many counseling avenues are available. Both a relationship counselor and financial advisor can help you as a couple gain control of your financial problems; more counselors provide both services. There are no band-aid solutions. Personal and emotional issues are commonly at the root of money issues. Couples committed to investing in personal and couples therapy can emerge happier and solvent.

"Maintaining a balance on your card usually you to pay interest each month. Try to pay off your credit card balance in full each month or send more than the minimum payment. As always, use your credit cards responsibly."

"Many of us like to keep our loose change in a jar and let it collect over time. Once it's full, don't pay machines to count it for you, go to your bank to deposit your savings or have it exchange for cash."

"Many car wash places offer a flat monthly rate for unlimited washes, so check with your local car wash to find out if they offer a monthly rate and cash in on a clean car. Or, you can get a discount when you pump your gas."

"Unless you live in an area where potable water isn't safe, don't waste your money on bottled water. Often times, it's simply bottled tap water. Buy a reusable water bottle or invest in a quality water filter, and save (plus you'll reduce plastic waste)."

"It's a tough addiction to beat, but it is a very expensive to purchase cigarettes daily. Aside from causing deadly health effects, according to Time, smoking can cost you $1 to $2 million in a lifetime. Make an effort to better your health and wallet."

"Skip the line at the currency exchange or grocery store and pay online using checking account or debit card. Some companies charge to use a debit card, so schedule e-check payment, which is typically free."

"Remember to return all materials on time. It'll save you money and allow for other library patrons to enjoy the material in a timely manner. If you do have library fees, wait for a month when they accept canned goods as a payment method (usually around the holidays)."

"If you forget your charger and your phone needs to be charged, some time you'll be inclined to purchase a new one, but it can be costly or even poor quality. Always keep your charger handy, look for a charging station where you're at, or simply ask to borrow one."

"Sometimes, expiration dates may not reflect the true shelf life of a product. Don't waste food (and money) by throwing out a product which may still be fine to consume. Check out Eat By Date and see for yourself the true shelf life of your groceries."

"When you're heading out and can't or don't want to drive, consider calling Uber or Lyft instead of calling a cab so you can save money on the ride. You can use my linkto get $20 off your first Uber ride."

"If you pay for water utility bill, according to the EPA, fixing leaky faucets saves you 10% on your bill. By ignoring it, you not only lose money every day it goes unfixed, but you also waste clean water, at a rate of 10,000 gallons per year."

"Improve your health and wallet by not eating fast food often. It may be cheap, but it adds up, especially if you eat out a few times per week. Instead, spend the money and the time to grocery shop and prepare meals."

"Sometimes you're running late for work and don't have time to pack a lunch. Buying lunch often costs much more than preparing and bring a meal to work. Spend some time planning, purchasing and preparing meals ahead of time so they're ready to go, even when you're in a hurry."

"Even though you may not use them often, electronics that are plugged in still consume energy. Unplug appliances you don't you often and keep other electronics on a power strip, turning them off when not in use."

"When you do go grocery shopping, sometimes the already-prepped sub or diced fruits and veggies tempt you to buy them and save time, but you'll be paying top dollar for those products. Plan a list ahead of time and buy the individual food items, then spend the time prepping them yourself in order to save.

If you have trouble making grocery lists and figuring out what you're going to eat each day, I'd highly recommend trying out the $5 Meal Plan so you can receive healthy meal plans and recipes to your inbox."

"Not only are these snacks typically unhealthy (there goes your healthy habit), they are typically much more expensive than their grocery store counterparts. If you find yourself buying vending machine snacks, try to save the money instead and see how much you have leftover at the end of the month. You can probably invest it."

"When you're heading out and can't or don't want to drive, consider calling Uber or Lyft instead of calling a cab so you can save money on the ride. You can use my linkto get $20 off your first Uber ride."

"Save money by skipping on the brand names, like medicine, toiletries, and certain foods. Remember that healthier options with fewer additives may cost more and in that case they may be worth it. Otherwise, generic is the way to go."

"Save money by skipping on the brand names, like medicine, toiletries, and certain foods. Remember that healthier options with fewer additives may cost more and in that case they may be worth it. Otherwise, generic is the way to go."